Still the old me
Throughout my entire life, I’ve always viewed my old self as a completely different person than the current me. No matter what age I was, I’d look back on myself a couple years before and consider her to be both naive and inexperienced. Although it was hard to come to this conclusion, I recently realized something else: that girl from the past is still inside of me.
As a freshman, I wore clothes that current me wouldn’t be caught dead in. I styled my hair in unflattering ways. I wore blotchy makeup and posed awkwardly in photos. As I got older, I regarded my freshman self as cringe-worthy and preferred to delete all photos of that era. But, as I sit here and consider what made me into the senior that I am today — confident, hopeful and self-assured — I came to the conclusion that I would be none of those things if not for my embarrassing freshman year. That girl shaped the one that writes this today; she is the one that writes this today. We are not separate entities; we are one and the same. Everything I am now is possible because of the mistakes and decisions I made in the beginning of high school.
Now, as a senior, I am so grateful for everything I did throughout high school. I’ve learned lessons that I will refer to for the rest of my life. I’ve grown into the woman I was always meant to be. I’ve discovered what I want out of life, and I’ve given myself the determination to achieve it. I no longer think of freshman-year Abby as unknowing or ignorant; now, I see her for what she is: an essential piece of the person I’m growing into. I have so many incredible plans for my future, and if I learned anything from my younger self, it’s to allow myself to grow and learn.
Abbott Elementary
On Dec. 7, 2021, the first episode of Abbott Elementary aired on ABC during Primetime on television screens across the nation. The premiere was an automatic hit with viewers, who became eager for new episodes to air. The mockumentary-style sitcom was created by Quinta Brunson, who also stars in the show, and follows a group of fictional elementary school teachers at a poorly funded school in Philadelphia.
Many fans adore the show for how it tackles the very real problems of the United States public school system with comedy and authenticity. The show shines a spotlight on the lives of black educators, who are often underrepresented and overlooked for the impact they have on their students. The show is based on a teacher the show’s creator had in real life named Ms. Abbott and her own mother who taught Kindergarten.
Now on its second season, the cast of Abbott Elementary was nominated for various awards this year including an Emmy, Golden Globe and a People’s Choice Award. It has also set rating records for being one of the most-watched shows on the network since Modern Family. The audience score is a whopping 88 percent, with most viewers rating it 3.5 stars on average.
Personally, I love Abbott Elementary for its witty comedy and touching storylines. If you are looking for a casual watch with lighthearted comedy and an outstanding ensemble, Abbott Elementary is the perfect show.